Byrd Adds Penn State Offer

Penn State was the latest school to offer North Augusta wide receiver/safety C.J. Byrd.
"I called Coach Paterno and talked to him for about 15 minutes," Byrd said in an interview earlier today.

ATH C.J. Byrd
6-3, 184, 4.5
North Augusta High School
North Augusta, South Carolina

"He sounded a lot a like my mom; he stressed academics over and over. He said Penn State had never signed a player out of South Carolina who did not earn his degree ... something that I know my mother will love hearing."
Paterno said that Penn State just finished building a brand-new business school on campus, according to Byrd. Big Byrd wants to major in accounting or education.
"Coach Paterno thinks C.J. is the model student-athlete for Penn State's program, which is a great compliment to C.J., his parents and North Augusta High School," North Augusta coach Joe Long. "He said they don't normally offer many players this early, but he felt he couldn't wait another day after watching the tape."
Paterno also said he will at North Augusta's spring practice. Said Long, "It will be one of the highlights of my coaching career having Coach Paterno on our campus. He is a living legend. Heck, I am nervous about it already."
The other colleges to offer Byrd include Oklahoma, LSU, Georgia, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia, Clemson, South Carolina and Illinois. Big Byrd has made unofficial visits to Clemson, Auburn and South Carolina. He will travel to Tennessee and Georgia over the next two weekends.

We will continue to keep you updated on C.J. Byrd, right up through signing day 2005.